Two-dimensional code reading device

Abstract

A two-dimensional code reading device which can prolong the lifetime of the auxiliary light is provided. A two-dimensional code reading device in the present invention includes an image reading unit to acquire an image of a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket medium, a specific pattern detector to detect a specific pattern to identify the two-dimensional code from the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit, a two-dimensional code decoder to read information recorded in the two-dimensional code detected by the specific pattern detector, an auxiliary light to irradiate light on the ticket medium and an auxiliary light controller to control turning on and off of the auxiliary light, wherein the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light when the specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detector and the information recorded in the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the two-dimensional code decoder.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A two-dimensional code reading device comprising:
 an image reading unit to acquire an image of a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket medium; 
 a specific pattern detector to detect a specific pattern to identify the two-dimensional code from the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit; 
 a two-dimensional code decoder to read information recorded in the two-dimensional code detected by the specific pattern detector; 
 an auxiliary light to irradiate light on the ticket medium; and 
 an auxiliary light controller to control turning on and off of the auxiliary light, 
 wherein the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light when the specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detector and the information recorded in the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the two-dimensional code decoder, 
 the image of the two-dimensional code acquired by the image reading unit is an image taken by a camera which adjusts the brightness of the image by automatically controlling an exposure time or a gain, 
 and the auxiliary light controller does not turn on the auxiliary light regardless of a detection result of the specific pattern detector and a reading result of the two-dimensional code decoder, when the exposure time with which the camera takes the image is shorter than a predetermined threshold value of the exposure time, or when the gain with which the camera takes the image is smaller than a predetermined threshold value of the gain. 
 
     
     
       2. The two-dimensional code reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an exposure time and gain controller to disable, when the auxiliary light controller turns on the auxiliary light, the automatic control of the camera for the exposure time and the gain, to set the camera to use predetermined fixed values on the exposure time and the gain, to make the camera control the exposure time and the gain in accordance with the fixed values, and to make the camera take an image of the two-dimensional code again.